Method and system for collecting and disseminating survey data over the internet

Abstract

A system and method for collecting and disseminating survey information wherein a verification procedure is performed to determine actual ownership of the product by the respondent being surveyed on that product.

1. A method of collecting and disseminating survey information, comprising the steps of:
 providing a website with hardware and software server components, the components including non-standard or specialized components that perform services for web site users, the specialized components including a questionnaire database and a survey answers database storing previously collected survey results relating to particular subject matter, and wherein the previously collected survey results include a composite survey response; 
 establishing communication via the internet between a client and the web site; 
 receiving, at the web site, a request from the client to view a composite survey response; 
 providing the client with a survey questionnaire from the survey questionnaire database directed to subject matter that is unrelated to the subject matter of the composite survey response; 
 providing access to the composite survey response to the client only if the web site receives a response to the survey questionnaire from the client; 
 and rejecting the client's request for the survey results if a response to the survey questionnaire is not received from the client. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of assimilating the survey response into the composite survey response and the survey answers database. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of providing the client with the survey questionnaire includes requesting identifying indicia from the client. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the identifying indicia is a product identification number. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the identifying indicia is a vehicle identification number (VIN). 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 3 , further including the step of correlating the identifying indicia to a database. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 3 , further including the steps of:
 correlating the identifying indicia with a database to determine if the client is a registered member; 
 and providing access to the previously collected survey results only if the client is also a registered member. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the correlating step determines if a relationship exists between the identifying indicia and the subject matter of the survey questionnaire. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the correlating step determines if a relationship exists between the identifying indicia and the client. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the correlating step determines if a relationship exists between the identifying indicia and the client and the survey questionnaire. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the client is denied access to the previously collected survey results if no relationship is found between the identifying indicia and the subject matter of the survey questionnaire. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the client is denied access to the previously collected survey results if no relationship is found between the identifying indicia and the client. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the client is denied access to the previously collected survey results if no relationship is found between the identifying indicia, the client and the subject matter of the survey questionnaire.